Author Blacker shares his story of living with Parkinson’s disease.
By Prof. Tissa Wijeratne
Tissa Wijeratne
In 2020, the World Federation of Neurology (WFN) launched World Brain Day with the theme of “Stop Parkinson’s Disease.” The first voice heard on the global webinar was that of Prof. David Blacker, who movingly shared his own story as a neurologist living with Parkinson’s disease (PD). That video captured the attention of thousands of people worldwide, and his new book, “My FIGHT With PD,” builds on that moment with honesty, science, and hope.
The book traces Blacker’s journey from leading stroke neurologist to person with PD. He recounts the subtle early signs, the long road to diagnosis, and the challenge of balancing professional identity with the realities of illness. Written with clarity and humility, it provides both clinical insight and a deeply personal perspective rarely seen in medical literature.
Photo courtesy of Leschenault Press and the Book Reality Experience.
Central to the narrative is the creation of FIGHT-PD (Feasibility of Instituting Graduated High-Intensity Training), a noncontact boxing program developed with former boxing champion Rai Fazio. Blending neuroscience, exercise science, and lived experience, this project shows how physical training can improve function and outlook for people with PD. Blacker’s role as both researcher and participant gives the story unusual depth.
The latter sections reveal his resilience in facing COVID-19, eye surgery, depression, and prostate cancer, while continuing to advocate for exercise, patient support, and new research directions, such as the link between pesticides and PD. He also shares practical lessons about living with PD, offering encouragement to both patients and clinicians.
“My FIGHT With PD” is more than a memoir. It is an invitation to rethink how we support people with Parkinson’s disease through science, community, and compassion. It echoes the goals of World Brain Day and the World Health Organization’s Intersectoral Global Action Plan (IGAP): better care, more research, and stronger advocacy for brain health worldwide. I will soon be inviting you all to join a webinar on this book with him. Watch World Neurology for more information. •
Prof. Tissa Wijeratne is a WFN elected trustee and chair of World Brain Day.
